Parents- Can't make I-Day?

forumjunkie

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I always feel like reaching out to parents who just can't make I-DAY.

We chose not to take our Plebe to I- day. It was a stretch financially, but to be honest with you, I had traveled a lot with my son many road trips, and good memories made in the pursuit of this goal, Visiting ROTC schools, , interviews etc...

I could not imagine a 12hr drive with me Boo Hoo..ing half the time! So we threw him on a plane and sent him the night before. It really worked out great! He got there early, was able to stay in the dorm, made friends before I-Day started and just felt "Settled in" .

If you can go More power to you! I'm not trying to take anything away from that, I am sure it is a blast, but if you can't... don't feel bad, you may have saved your Plebe some emotional Distress with all the GOOD-BYE's
 
My husband bought 3 subway sandwiches, chips, and bottles of water--once we found our plebe after the swearing in ceremony we searched out plebes without families and passed out goodies to them. They were thrilled! Hoping other parents will follow suit this year. We found them all in a group near the seal in Tcourt.
 
My husband bought 3 subway sandwiches, chips, and bottles of water--once we found our plebe after the swearing in ceremony we searched out plebes without families and passed out goodies to them. They were thrilled! Hoping other parents will follow suit this year. We found them all in a group near the seal in Tcourt.


Thank you for doing that. New parents you will soon learn this is one of the true joys of the Academies, you don't lose a child, you gain this incredible new extended family!
 
One other thing I meant to mention. It is not too early to start making your reservations for Parents Visitation weekend. The Rooms go really fast, especially in Annapolis because it is regular tourist Season.
 
There will be quite a few mids whose parent(s) can't attend I-Day, for financial and other reasons. USNA really tries to make their day just as special. In some cases, they will be "adopted" by the parents of another plebe for the family visitation after the swearing in. USNA also makes sure they have cellphones so they can spend the 30 minutes talking to their families, if that is what they want to do.

In all honesty, coming for I-Day is probably of greater emotional "benefit" to the parents than the plebe. They keep plebes so busy that day that, other than the 30 minutes, you really don't think about your family.

As others have said, you should make every effort to come for PPW, if it is at all possible. After Commissioning Week, it's the single best time for mids and their families. However, if you can't make it, your plebe will certainly be "adopted" by someone for the WE.
 
I believe we had 45 minutes with our plebes last year. I didn't find IDay nearly as emotional as PPW--for me or my plebe!
 
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Remember too that some cadets will want to go on their own. That's why I suggest talking it through as a family.

While it was hard on DW, both of our kids viewed travelling to the Academy as a "right of passage" of sorts and truly wanted to head out alone with the big goodbye of friends and family at the airport.

Finally, I believe all of the SAs have some sort of bed-n-breakfast program where new cadets will be picked up at the airport by a local family, fed, put up for the night, and driven to the SA in the morning. So that worry can be taken off the table.
 
We traveled out to I-day at the USAFA. We had a mini family vacation in Co. beforehand as we had never been out there. On I-day, once your kid walks away to be in processed, there is no contact with him. You may be able to snap a photo as he comes down the stairs or goes into the bus, but he is not supposed to acknowledge you in any way. I-day was harder than I thought it would be. It is one thing to know they are off on their own, it is another to seeing it happen. It is hard to word, but it brings home the fact that they are no longer "yours" but their own person forging ahead on their own. It is one thing to know it and another to witness it. There is a finality to the change in life. I wish I could find the right words.

Talk to your kid about the option. Sometimes they think they are expected to go on their own versus they really want to go on their own. It really is dependent upon your kid, yourselves and your financial situation.

Mine was glad we went. I am glad I went even though seeing him off was very emotionally wrenching and far harder than I thought it would be.

There is no one set answer to this.
 
For PPW you might want to rent a house in Easton. It is a lot cheaper than a Hotel for a lot of people attending. We did it and it was an easy walk over the bridge to Main Gate. Had a back yard with a grill and plenty of places for siblings and friends for the whole weekend. I- Day is a wonderful day but if you can't make it, PPW is a must. Friends from High School said it was like walking Down Town with a Rock Star with DD in her Whites during PPW. I-Day is a nut house since you will not see your Plebe until after Oath of Office. We also brought snacks and drinks to Stribling Walk for those who didn't have any family members there. Don't forget the picnic table cloth for your Plebe and others to sit on while they eat their sandwich and drink their drink. They don't want to get those brand new Plebe Whites grass stained before form up.They will be stressed out and hungry since they will probably not have eaten lunch. Let unaccompanied use your phone to call home. Listen for the Christmas Carols playing from Bancroft as you walk out. "I'll be home for Christmas" was one of my favorites.
 
With respect, I think you mean Eastport, not Easton, MD, which is over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and on the Eastern Shore. Lovely, but a much longer walk.
 
Yes Eastport. Easton is a long walk over a couple of bridges.
 
Annapolis Accommodations.
 
Flipkey.com has some good listings with prices depending upon the number of people they sleep. We used HomeAway for our daughter's wedding at the Academy and it was easy with reasonable prices. Good Luck.
 
We also decided DS should just fly to Kings Point in his own to report for Indoc. We prearranged a hotel nearby that would allow a 18 year old to check in by himself. There were only two choices and they were very accommodating. USMMA does not have lodging available so we had to arrange it ourselves. Not a big deal. DS hit the sports welcome aboard picnics the day before and then returned in the morning to report via taxicab. The process was easier on all of us. He didn't need me trying not to sob. He had previously traveled to two academies for overnights on his own. He was ready. Momma was ready. And then I cried like a baby when his town car limo ( my treat for him) pulled away from our driveway. "You've Got this" I said. And boy did he ever! We live 13 hours away via car. Waiting to attend Parent's Weekend was the way to go for us. Just one month ago we were returning from the four days of graduation celebration! KP Class of 2015! I have not posted in a long time. This forum helped in so many ways. The FB pages can be bananas.
* sidebar - The day DS left for KP ( maritime school with a military habit) his dad, three siblings and I went out to dinner. As soon as we got in the car the song The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald comes on the radio. Nobody said a word. I could feel all of their eyes on me. Finally I muttered " Awwwkward" and we all laughed.
 
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Awwwkward is the word. and that was on a lake! Son has just left Singapore and on his way to China as an Engineer, Merchant Mariner (Mass Maritime graduate). God watch over all who go down to the sea in ships.
 
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